There are several reasons for independence:
- You declare yourself independent. You need 1100 house members to do so.
- You take part in a revolution and are the strongest (combat power) of the revolter.
- Your superordinate is integrated by someone. In that case all subordinates become independent.
- Your superordinate was inactive and therefor removed from the game.

part 4 doesnt apply if the superordinate has a superordinate
in german kosmor, one of my subordinates was removed because he was inactive, so his subordinate became my direct subordinate_________________Major alphabravo in the house Ashera

If Tobi gets conqured, you become independent (of Hommel) - keeping all your subordinates. And if you get conqured, all your subordinates will become independent of you (keeping their subordinates)

What we are talking of here, is what will happen if a player resigns the game:
In .de, your subordinates would become Tobi's subordinates if you withdrew from the game. In .com however, your subordinates would become independent.